Welfare of Disabled & Citizens Department

WELFARE OF DISABLED & CITIZENS DEPARTMENT

1. Name : Assistant Director 2. Designation : Assistant Director, Welfare of Disabled & Senior Citizens Dept.,

3. Office Address : RCD Hospital Campus, Peda Waltair Jn., Visakhapatnam-17

4. Phone No. : 0891 – 2562585 5. Mobile No. : 90000 13610 6. E-mail : [email protected]

BRIEF NOTE ON THE DEPARTMENT PROFILE :

The following schemes are being implementing for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in the District.

As per the censes 2001, 67,263 Handicapped Persons belongs to various categories of VH (32,269), HH (10,217) OH (17,454) and MH (6,953) are there in Visakha Dist.

A. SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT SCHEMES:

1. PRE-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS :

The Disabled students studying class I to X and whose parents / guardians income is less than Rs. 1,00,000/- per annum are eligible for getting scholarships and other allowance at the following rates. This scheme is being implemented since 1981.

Other Allowances Enhance- Maintenance ment of Transport of Prosthetic / Readers Class Scholar- Allowance Orthopedic Allowance ship per per month aids per per month month (for O.H. month (for V.H. only) (for O.H. only) only) 1 2 3 4 5 Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. I to V 70/- 50/- 25/- 25/- VI to 100/- 50/- 25/- 25/- VIII IX & X 182/- 50/- 25/- 50/-

2. POST-MATRIC SCHOLARSHIPS :

The Disabled students studying class Intermediate and above and whose parents / guardians income is less than Rs. 1,00,000/- per annum are eligible for getting scholarships through online at the following rates. This scheme is being implemented from the year 2008-09.

Group Hosteller Students Day (Attached Managed Scholars Hostel) Hostel I (Professional courses) 962 442 429 II (PG level) 682 442 429 III (Degree level) 520 325 240 IV (Intermediate level) 520 325 182

3. REIMBUSEMENT OF TUITION FEE TO PROFESSIONAL COURSES STUDENTS: As per the Govt. orders the OC Disabled students studying Intermediate and above classes are getting tuition fee reimbursement through online from the year 2008-09.

4. SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE MENTALLY RETARDED STUDENTS : The Mentally Retarded Students studying in the Specialized Institutions and whose parents / guardians annual income not exceeding Rs.1,00,000/- are being sanctioned Rs.1000/- per annum.

5. SUPPLY OF NOTE BOOKS TO HOSTEL INMATES: The students studying in Govt. Disabled Hostels in Visakhapatnam district are being provided Note Books.

B. ECONOMIC REHABILITAION SCHEME: Under this scheme the disabled persons whose parents/guardians income is less than Rs.11,000/- per annum are sanctioned an amount not exceeding Rs.3,000/- per candidate to enable them to make a living. This amount is sanctioned either as free grant or as 30% subsidy of total outlay of the scheme with bank loan to the extent of 70% if the total outlay, or if margin money is available, with 20% margin money whereby the bank loan would be reduced to 50% of the outlay.

C. OTHER SUBSIDY SCHEMES: 1. MARRIAGE INCENTIVE AWARDS: To encourage marriages between disabled and normal persons for social integration and social reform, a sum of Rs.3,000/- as cash incentive award is sanctioned to either of the spouse if a normal person marries a disabled persons. The scheme is being implemented since 1985. The enhanced Marriage Incentive Awards is Rs.10,000/- from the year 2008-09.

2. PETROL/DIESEL SUBSIDY: Disabled persons owners of motorized vehicles and having income Up to Rs.24,000/- per annum are sanctioned 50% subsidy on actual expenditure on purchase of petrol/diesel only for the use of vehicle from the residence to the place of duty and back and to the places where day to day activities of the person make it necessary for him/her to go. The Subsidy is providing vehicles up to 2 hp – 15 ltrs and above 2 hp – 25 ltrs per month.

D. SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS: 1. HOSTELS FOR DISABLED BOYS: 2 Hostels for orthopaedically Handicapped are functioning at Peda Waltair and Pendruthi accommodating 100 each in both the institutions which are located in Govt. buildings with sufficient accommodation. The amenities like note books, text books, uniforms, cosmetic charges, bedding materials provided. Frequent medical checkups are being provided. Vidya Volunteers are being provided through SSA.

2. RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR VISUALLY HANDICAPPED GIRLS:

The Government Residential School for VH Girls was established during the year 1985, and functioning in its own building at good atmosphere on the Beach Road at Yendada, Visakhapatnam with the sanctioned strength of 100 seats. The students are being provided free boarding and lodging with special education.

3. TRAINING CUM PRODUCTION CENTRE FOR DISABLED: Various ITI, Non ITI and Vocational Courses are being given to 100 Disabled Youth (Male) at Bakkannapalem under the programmes of APVCC since 1983 with hostel facility.

4. SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGH NGOs:

Under Govt. of India, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment Schemes Special Institutions are being functioning through the Non Governmental Organisations in the District.

E. SUPPLY OF AIDS AND APPLIANCES:

Aids and Appliances such as Tricycles, Wheel Chairs, Crutches, Calipers, Artificial Limbs, Hearing Aids, Walking Sticks, and Braille Slates are being supplied to the needy disabled persons through AP Vikalangula Co-operative Corporation.

G. OTHERS :

1. Barrier free environment provided to the persons with the disabilities in all the District offices and steps are being taken for providing similar facility in all Govt. buildings and public places.

2. 174 Persons with the Disabilities have been provided employment in Govt. Departments through Special Recruitment Drive upto 31-3-2010.

3. Implementation of National Trust Act., 1999.

4. Conduct of International Day of the Disabled, World Elders Day, Louise Braille Birthday, Hellen Keller Birthday and all National and State Level functions.

Success stories of the Department like Prajavani :

Every Monday the Head of the Department is attending the grievances at Collectorate and taking necessary actions regarding redressal of grievances of Persons with the Disabilities. Sri A. Srinivasa Rao, a locomotor Disabled Person, who was submitted representation in Prajavani during August, 2009 regarding sanction of family Pension from Railway authorities. The Railway authorities requested through the Commissioner, Welfare of Disabled & Sr. Citizens, A.P., Hyderabad and the District Collector, Visakhapatnam for sanction of family pension which was regularly releasing by railway authorities.

Assistant Director, Welfare of Disabled & Sr. Citizens,